The UK has one of the most developed public transport and road networks in Europe, so it is way easier to get around than you might think.
You can travel by high-speed trains between major cities to budget coaches, rental cars for epic road trips and reliable public transport in cities and small villages.
But choosing the right way to get around can make a huge difference, especially if you’re on a limited time, or budget.
Some options are faster; some are cheaper, and others are better if you want to visit smaller towns or rural areas.
We live in the UK, and love to explore different places and regions of the country. We’ve taken everything from trains, buses and driven, so we’ve learnt some things about getting around.
So, we’ve put this guide together, that breaks down how to get around the UK, helping you plan your trip with confidence.
You’ll learn about the pros and cons of trains, buses, driving and flights, the cheapest ways to travel around the UK, and a few tips most visitors don’t know about.
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How to get around the UK
The easiest and one of the quickest ways to get around the UK is via train, especially if you plan to visit cities like London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham.
Trains are fast, comfortable, and connect to nearly every part of the country.
But they are not the cheapest option.
If you’re looking to spend less on public transport, then buses and coaches are the way to go.
Buses and long-distance coaches are still comfortable, and cover most of the country, yet they do take longer.
While renting a car is flexible and a great option to get you to rural locations, or off the beaten path destinations, such as the Scottish Highlands, Cornwall, or the Lake District.
You’ll probably find that you’ll need to use a combination of trains, local public transport, and rent a car if you plan to do a road trip.
Getting around by train in the UK
Travelling by train around the UK is one of the easiest, quickest, and most popular ways to get around.
The network is extensive, covering almost every major city and many smaller towns, which is a convenient option for visitors.
For example, if you’re planning a trip to Edinburgh from London, it’s achievable in as little as 4.5 hours. Compare this to driving that could take nearly 8 hours depending on traffic and that’s without stopping for a break.
Why is train travel popular in the UK?
For many, this is the preferred option because it offers a good balance of speed, comfort, and accessibility.
Compared to flying, you don’t need to arrive early or go through airport style security. It is as simple as arriving just before the train departure to avoid missing it, finding a comfortable seat and arriving at your destinations sometime later.
Plus, many routes are scenic, especially in northern England and the highlands of Scotland.
Types of tickets available
With varying ticket options and prices, this can confuse you when thinking about travelling by train.
A few options are:
Advanced tickets
Now you can purchase tickets at the train station, but these are often a little bit more expensive compared to purchasing tickets online.
Or you can purchase the tickets in advance.
This can save you time and money, but you should travel on the date chosen and on the departure time.
You may find some networks more lenient with the departure time than others. For example, when we visit London, we’ll select the date and departure time. We must travel on the given date, but we might choose to travel at a different departure time, providing it isn’t during peak travel times.
Peak and off-peak tickets
Peak travel times are between the rush hour commuting times for 6:30am – 9:30am and 4pm – 7pm on weekdays.
Not only does it get crowded, but ticket prices are more expensive.
Off-peak are outside of these hours, with less crowds and cheaper prices.
Anytime tickets
Anytime tickets are exactly as it says on the tin.
It allows you more flexibility but comes at a price.
If you have set plans to travel via train, you are best booking in advance several weeks before, as prices can be considerably cheaper.
Even a day or two prior to your planned trip could save you a few pounds.
Tips for saving money travelling via train
Train travel in the UK is expensive, especially if you book at the last minute. But there are some ways you could save.
We would recommend booking tickets a good month or more before your intended trip. If you can’t, then book a couple of days before your planned departure.
Plan to travel outside of the peak travel times.
Do some research on rail or travel cards. We use a rail card, called Two Together Railcard.
It gives us a 1/3rd off ticket prices, but there are some exclusions. The main one is that we must travel together to be able to benefit from the discount. We can’t use it if I am travelling with my mum or another family member. It must be used when Shams and I are travelling together.
The rail card is valid for up to one year and costs £35.00.
A rail card such as the one we have is only worth it if you are travelling around the UK by train within the next year. If you’re visiting the UK just once, you may not find it’s worth it.
You’ll be surprised how much you could save by following just one of these tips.
When should you take the train?
Travelling by train will make sense if you intend to connect major cities and popular tourist destinations.
Some of the common tourist routes are between London and Edinburgh, Manchester, Bath, Glasgow and York.
Trips like these are normally faster and more convenient than driving.
If you plan to include smaller villages, national parks, or rural regions to your itinerary, you may need to combine trains with local buses or rent a car.
Getting around the UK by bus and coach
The more affordable option for getting around the UK is by bus or coach. Although it is slower.
Most buses cover any small town or village that isn’t connected by a train line.
The two major coach companies are National Express and Megabus, both offering affordable routes to destinations such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh.
Arriva and Hams Travel, for example, are some of the larger bus companies that cover shorter distances between local villages and smaller towns.
Coaches’ vs Local buses: what is the difference?
There are very small differences between a bus and a coach, which might seem a little confusing if this is your first visit to the UK.
Local buses operate within cities or regions and are used for shorter journeys. For example, the red London buses will connect neighbourhoods of London with central London.
In our local area, we have a bus that runs from Hastings to Battle, including stops at smaller villages along the way.
While coaches on the other hand are designated for long-distance travel between cities. There is normally luggage storage under the coach, comfortable seats and on some buses they have onboard Wi-Fi.
Both buses and coaches offer more affordable ticket prices, compared to train prices, but can be slow, especially if stuck in traffic.
Why coaches are popular with budget travellers or backpackers
Simply, buses and coaches are the cheaper alternative.
Some tickets on a National Express coach will cost as little as £10, if you book early enough. While trains will cost upwards of £20.
Here is an example trip and the cost comparison:
From London to Edinburgh
Bus – £139.10 for two adult return tickets, journey time 10 hours 45 minutes
Train – £227.80 for two adult return tickets, journey time of 4 hours 20 minutes
We selected the same dates leaving on a Friday and returning on a Monday.
So, from our example you could be saving £88.70 for two adults on a return ticket, which you could use on an experience or upgrade your accommodation.
But you’ll note, it takes a whole day by bus to reach your destination.
If you’re on a tight budget or a backpacker, then consider coaches to connect between major cities, but be prepared depending on where you’re travelling too, that your time will be consumed in travel and not exploring.
If you don’t mind spending a bit more money, then consider travelling via train.
Want to compare bus/coach tickets with train tickets, then check out the Trainline. You’ll get instant price comparisons and options, so you can book the best ticket at a price you’re comfortable with paying.
When should you travel by coach or bus
The only time that taking a coach or bus would make sense is if you’re on a very tight budget and need ways to save money while travelling and are in no rush to connect between destinations.
Pro tip: Taking a coach is a great option for overnight travel, not only will you save on accommodation prices, but speeds up connections between cities, and you can start exploring sooner.
If your itinerary is tight, then taking a train might be a better option.
Renting a car in the UK
While trains and buses are an excellent way to get around the UK, renting a car will allow you a bit more freedom to get off the beaten path, and visit multiple destinations in a shorter period of time.
When should you rent a car?
It will make more sense to hire a vehicle if you plan to include rural areas or scenic regions within your itinerary.
To maximise time, a road trip is an option we would suggest.
You could cover destinations such as the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District, Cornwall and the southwest coast, Snowdonia National Park in Wales and more.
What you should know about driving in the UK
If you’re visiting from abroad and this is your first time driving in the UK, there are a few important things to consider when renting and driving a car.
In the UK, vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road, which can be a little confusing, especially so, if you’re used to driving in countries that drive on the right-hand side.
While most of our vehicles are manual gears, we do have some automatic cars, should you prefer.
Rural and country roads are narrow and winding; some have just enough space for one vehicle to proceed down. Take caution on these roads and stop in stopping gaps to allow other cars to pass.
Parking, especially in large cities, is limited and expensive. Consider using a park and ride service.
If you’re just planning a trip to London, then renting a vehicle wouldn’t be practical and public transport is far easier and cheaper.
We have a more in-depth guide on tips for driving in the UK, that will take you through everything you need to know about staying safe on the road.
Estimated cost for hiring a car
There are a few factors that will vary the cost of hiring a car in the UK, things like the size of the vehicle you’re renting, the season and location.
If you are hiring a car during the shoulder months, it’s small and renting from outside of London, then you’ll be looking at rates starting from £30+ per day for a manual car.
You’ll then need to consider fueling the car, which again depending on the size could range from £50-£100 for a full tank of petrol.
When setting your budget, you should factor in things like fuel, insurance, any toll roads, parking and miscellaneous expenses.
Combine public transport with renting a car
The best strategy for many travellers is to combine public transport with renting a car. This offers maximum flexibility.
You could use trains or coaches for connections between major cities, renting a car for more rural and road trips, and using public transport within cities.
This approach allows you to enjoy the convenience of getting around and the flexibility to see more in a short period of time.
Getting around by plane
Flying is an option, but not really worth it, unless you are considering long-distance travel, because the country is relatively compact and well connected by other modes of transport.
That said, there might be some exceptions, affordability and what time constraints your under.
For example, you may find flying from London to Scotland or Northern Ireland is quicker and easier than taking a train or a ferry, plus it’s cheaper.
When should you fly domestically within the UK
Domestic flights are useful for journeys that would otherwise take many hours to reach by train or car.
A few routes you could consider are:
- London to Edinburgh
- London to Inverness (gateway to the Scottish Highlands)
- London to Aberdeen
- London to Belfast
You could pick up a flight for as little as £25 with budget airlines, depending on the season and how much luggage you have with you.
Things to consider when flying domestically in the UK
So, while flying is quicker, don’t forget that airports add extra time. For example, you’ll need to be at the airport around 2 hours before your departure time, to proceed through airport security, etc.
And many UK airports are located around 30 minutes outside of city centres. So, it might look like it is quicker, but realistically it will probably take the same amount of time to take a train as it would a flight.
How safe is public transport in the UK
The country has a well-developed transport system, and millions of locals and tourists use trains, buses, and public transport daily.
Nearly every train station, airport and public transport network is generally well lit, monitored by CCTV, and staffed throughout the day. Which makes it safe for tourists, especially female travellers.
That said, like anywhere in the world, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings and take a few common-sense precautions.
If you’re travelling solo, then you’ll find these tips on how to stay safe for female travellers, helpful in making you feel more confident travelling on public transport in the UK.
Both Shams and I, along with many other solo female travellers have used public transport on our own and never had an issue. We’ve travelled on the London Underground, taken trains, buses and even driven in the UK, and at no point have we felt unsafe to travelling solo as a female.
By planning ahead, staying aware of your surroundings and using reputable transport services, you can feel confident with getting around the UK safely as a female traveller.
Conclusion
The UK is one of the easiest countries to get around, whether you choose to travel by train for fast connections between major cities, coaches for budget friendly options, renting a car for road trips and off the beaten path destinations or flights for long distance travel, there are plenty of ways to get around.
You may find the best approach is a combination of transport methods.
Trains are ideal for travelling between major cities; public transport makes it easy to navigate cities such as London and Edinburgh and rent a car for more freedom and to explore rural areas.
The key is to plan your transport around your itinerary, so you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying everything the UK has to offer.
With the right transport strategy, travelling around the UK will be easy, efficient, and even become part of your adventure.
Continue your travel planning, with these useful posts:
- How much does it cost to visit the UK
- Best time to visit the United Kingdom
- Travel tips for visiting the UK
- Best places to visit in the UK
- Best day trips from London
- How to navigate the London Underground like a pro
- Things to do in Canterbury
- Day trip to Oxford from London
- Day trip to Margate from London
- Essential guide to hiking the Seven Sisters
